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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos and Independence Play to Scoreless Draw

July 18, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos and Charlotte Independence split the points after they played to a scoreless draw in Sahlen's Stadium on Saturday, July 18th 2015. Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller made four saves to keep his ninth clean sheet of the season for the home side, while Matt Lampson made four saves to earn the shutout for the visitors.

The match featured two of the United Soccer League's top four ranked defensive sides. Rochester entered the match playing historically well as the Rhinos had allowed only six goals in their first 17 matches of the season, while Charlotte had the fourth best defensive record in the league with 18 goals conceded in their first 14 matches. Defense was the theme of the evening as both sides struggled to break down the other team's defensive shape.

Further complicating matters, it was 84 degrees at kickoff with the artificial surface at Sahlen's Stadium radiating heat to make the temperature feel ten degrees hotter on the field.

Both teams created a chance in the first 15 minutes of the match. The home side created the first chance of the match in the second minute when right midfielder Jonny Mendoza got in behind former teammate and current Charlotte Independence right back Patrick Slogic. Mendoza dribbled to the end line before serving a cross through the top of the visitor's six yard box that the Independence center back duo of Bilal Duckett and Henry Kalungi were able to head away. However, Charlotte's clearance fell to the Rhinos Jamaican right midfielder Kenardo Forbes at the top right corner of the penalty area. Forbes struck a half volley on goal, but Charlotte goalkeeper Matt Lampson was able to smother the shot to make the save.

The visitors had their first chance of the half eight minutes later when Alex Martinez whipped an Independence corner kick into the near post that found the head of Duckett. The former New England Revs loanee to Rochester flashed a header at the near post with power, but his finishing attempt failed to find the target.

The uncharacteristically warm conditions in Rochester, New York caught up to the players in the second 15 minutes as play largely remained trapped between the two penalty boxes with neither team bale to create many opportunities. The Rhinos worked their best move of the match in the 19th minute. Left back Onua Thomas Obasi overlapped Mendoza and probed the visitor's defensive shape with a dribble before centering the ball for captain Tony Walls in the middle of the park. Walls took a touch before playing a long ball to Forbes to switch the field. Forbes settled with his first touch before dribbling right at the Independence stretched defense. Forbes drifted into the penalty area before playing a cheeky one-two with striker Colin Rolfe where Rolfe played a back heel return pass to Forbes. The combination play opened up space for a Forbes shot that drifted just over the top left corner of Charlotte's net.

Rochester had four corner kicks in the first half with the best chance coming in the 22nd minute. Mendoza took the set piece from the right corner and served a ball into center back Julian Ringhof at the penalty spot. Ringhof challenged for the cross, and won the header, but needed a second effort from Walls to get a header on goal. However, the shot was right at Lampson and the match remained scoreless.

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller made a routine save after a Charlotte Independence set piece resulted in a Paolo DelPiccolo shot from 35 yards out in the 38th minute, and a tame Rhinos volley from Forbes was struck directly at Lampson in the 41st minute for the last chance of the first half.

The second half began with the visitors in the ascendancy as former University of North Carolina star Enzo Martinez entered the match at halftime for Charlotte, and he made an immediate impact on the match in the 50th minute. Enzo Martinez picked up a loose ball 35 yards out and dribbled at Rochester's center back pairing of Grant VandeCasteele and Julian Ringhof before playing a ball to his left to Alex Martinez. Alex Martinez received the ball and dribbled into the Rhinos box before he took a shot. The Independence shot was blocked by Ringhof before Miller made an athletic re-stand from a diving position, and he caught the loose ball to extinguish the threat.

Five minutes later the Rhinos had one of their best chances of the match. The build-up started when Duckett was unable to control a ball off of his chest for Charlotte, and Dixon picked up the loose ball for Rochester. Dixon used the turnover to get in behind the Independence back four, and the Rhinos forward dribbled to goal. Dixon's run drew the attention of the Charlotte defense and allowed him to drop the ball back to Mendoza from the end line to the penalty spot. Mendoza's shot on goal was blocked by Kalungi, who turned in a man of the match level performance in his first match back from a long term injury. Rolfe could not control the rebound at the far post, but the loose ball ended up finding the foot of Forbes. The Jamaican took a touch before shooting, but left back Ben Newnam was able to block the shot to end the threat.

Two minutes later Dixon and Mendoza combined to create another chance. This time Dixon played a one-two with Mendoza in the penalty area that freed the University of North Carolina product for a shot. However, his effort was from an acute angle and easy for Lampson to deal with.

The heat and humidity stifled the next ten minutes of the match as both sides substituted liberally to set up the action in the last 20 minutes of the match.

Head referee David Mon entered the match narrative twice in the last 21 minutes of the match. His first big decision came in the 69th minute when Obasi played a long ball forward that found the head of substitute striker Christian Volesky. Volesky flicked his header into the path of Dixon who ran into the visitor's penalty area with the ball. Duckett was able to rotate over and poke the ball away from Dixon, but the contact knocked the Rhinos attacker to the ground. Mon had an excellent look at the Independence tackle and waved play on.

As the match entered its final ten minutes, it looked set up for a classic Bob Lilley 1:0 finish, and the USL Hall of Fame coach's side almost delivered in the 80th minute. Dixon broke out of the Rhinos half down the left flank and sprung a counterattack by dribbling into the Independence half of the field before centering the ball to substitute Tyler Rudy. Rudy settled the ball with his chest before driving down the center of the field at the still unbalanced Charlotte defense. Rudy played the ball out wide to fellow New England Revs loanee Timi Mulgrew. Mulgrew dribbled into the penalty area before squaring the ball to Rudy eight yards out in front of the goal. Rudy knocked the ball past Lampson, but there was more than the hint of hand ball, and the goal was disallowed by Mon.

Six minuted later Lampson dove to his right to save a left footed effort from Mulgrew that was the last quality chance in the match for either team.

The point leaves Rochester at the top of the USL Eastern Conference table with 40 points from an unbeaten record of 11-0-7, and the Rhinos continue to have the highest point total in the 24 team USL. The clean sheet was the 12th in 18 matches for the home side. Rochester has allowed only six goals in their first 18 matches of the season, and continue to be performing at a club record pace as the 1998 Rhinos allowed 15 goals in a 28 match season.

The Rhinos next match is in Rochester against Charleston Battery on Sunday, July 26th 2015 at 4:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium. Single game tickets to the match are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages, and group sales tickets are also currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 18, 2015


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